What does the Boeing Company make in Arizona?
The Boeing Company commonly known for its commercial airline planes and is often associated with the Seattle area, but the company has a presence in Arizona for decades.
Controversy has not escaped the company's reputation as of late. The state’s operations do not include Boeing 737 Max 9 jets manufacturing, a type of plane that has gained national scrutiny. The jets were grounded after a door plug malfunction blew a hole during an Alaska Airlines flight in January.
A whistleblower and former Boeing employee was found dead in his car over the weekend. John Barnett spoke out about safety concerns with the company's aircraft production.
What does Boeing make in Mesa, Arizona?
Boeing's operations in Arizona are focused on helicopter manufacturing, flight testing and satellite network support.
The aerospace manufacturer is based out of East Mesa near the Falcon Field Airport at 5000 E. McDowell Road.
Mesa’s facilities are the production site of A for the AH-64E Apache and AH-6 Light Attack/Reconnaissance helicopters.
Since 1982, the AH-64 Apache multi-mission combat helicopter has been designed, developed and produced in Mesa, resulting in a worldwide fleet of more than 1,275 helicopters. The first AH-64E Apache helicopter was delivered to the U.S. Army in 2011.
Since 2017, Boeing has delivered 244 remanufactured Apache helicopters to the U.S. Army and 24 new-build aircraft to an international customer.
In March 2023, Boeing was awarded a $1.9 billion contract to build 184 AH-64E Apaches out of the Mesa facility for the U.S. Army and international customers like Australia.
Boeing also leases a hanger out of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport where it finalizes its prep work before delivering its helicopters to its customers.
How many people in Arizona are employed by Boeing?
The company employs more than 4,800 people throughout the state. The jobs available in Arizona include roles in engineering, manufacturing, finance, human resources and more.
The helicopter maker is among the top 100 employers in Arizona and is Mesa’s third largest employer behind Mesa Public Schools and Banner Health.
Where is Boeing headquartered?
In 2022, Boeing moved its headquarters from Chicago to Arlington, Virginia. Its commercial airlines are headquartered out of Seattle, Washington.
About 145,000 people are employed at Boeing, according to the company’s latest numbers. That includes employees in the United States as well as in 65 other countries.
The company celebrated its centennial in 2016.
Reporter Maritza Dominguez covers Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek and can be reached at maritza.dominguez@arizonarepublic.com or 480-271-0646. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @maritzacdom.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What to know about Boeing's manufacturing footprint in Arizona
